Prerequisites: Core program and one year of humanities studies or two years college, during which students completed humanities coursework.

Friedrich Nietzsche, artist-philosopher, first modernist and first postmodern philosopher, called himself a posthumous man, and said his readers were yet to be born. Nietzsche struggled physically to write, struggled financially to be published, and suffered the isolation of a self-exiled nomad. Born before his time, virtually unread in his lifetime, his writings have influenced nearly every interesting mind since his death. A consummate stylist, Nietzsche saw philosophy as an art form; under his pen, philosophy danced over systematizing and rules of argumentation, becoming essay, epigram, aphorism, parable, performance, and puzzle.

Students in this program will read, discuss and write about Nietzsche's major works. Each student will be responsible for the formal oral presentation of a major Nietzsche interpreter and for a public reading and analysis of a passage from Nietzsche's work. Groups of students will create presentations/performances based on major concepts in Nietzsche's writings. Students can also study German language within the program. Students must be prepared for difficult readings, sustained hard independent work and high expectations.

Students interested in this program are encouraged to continue their work on Nietzsche in spring quarter in the program "After Nietzsche: Arts, Literature, Philosophy in the Wanderer's Shadow" which offers the option of a 4-week trip to Nietzsche's places in Europe.

Students who wish to study another language or course while taking this program may negotiate a 12 credit option in consultation with program faculty.